Photoelectric conversion device and image pickup system using the photoelectric conversion device

ABSTRACT

It is a principle object of the present invention to reduce a voltage drop of a common power supply wiring in a plurality of amplification circuits to suppress crosstalk generated in other signal output lines. A photoelectric conversion device includes: a plurality of pixels each having a photoelectric conversion area; a plurality of signal output lines through which electrical signals are to be read out from the plurality of pixels; and a plurality of amplification circuits provided in correspondence to the plurality of signal output lines for amplifying the electrical signals, respectively, the plurality of amplification circuits including at least one constant current circuit portion and being disposed in a predetermined direction of repetitive dispersion, in which a constant current circuit portion includes at least a source grounded field effect transistor (the gate electrode is designated by reference symbol  124 G), and a direction (X-axis direction) of a channel length of the source grounded field effect transistor is different from the direction of repetitive disposition of the amplification circuits.

This application is a division of application Ser. No. 12/337,203, filedDec. 17, 2008, allowed, which was a division of U.S. application Ser.No. 11/030,074, filed Jan. 7, 2005, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,486,320 issuedMar. 2, 2009, the contents of which are incorporated herein byreference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a photoelectric conversion device andan image pickup system using the photoelectric conversion device, andmore particularly to a photoelectric conversion device including aplurality of pixels each having a photoelectric conversion area, aplurality of signal output lines through which electrical signals are tobe read out from a plurality of pixels, and a plurality of amplificationcircuits which are provided in correspondence to a plurality of signaloutput lines in order to amplify the electrical signals and whichincludes at least one constant current circuit portion, and an imagepickup system using the photoelectric conversion device.

2. Related Background Art

A photoelectric conversion device for amplifying and reading out signalsfrom a plurality of pixels each having a photoelectric conversion areaby column amplifiers, respectively, to read out successively theamplified signals from the column amplifiers by a scanning circuit isdescribed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H02-296470 forexample.

FIG. 6 is a circuit diagram showing a configuration of a photoelectricconversion device described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No.H02-296470. As shown in the drawing, a plurality of pixels for onecolumn are connected to a column amplifier, as an amplification circuit,including a first MOS transistor M1 and a second MOS transistor M2.Thus, a signal from the pixel is inputted and amplified to beaccumulated in the form of an offset signal (noise signal) and a sensorsignal in capacitors CT1 and CT2 as temporary accumulation means,respectively.

Now, a large output resistance is required for a transistor constitutinga constant current circuit in an inside of the column amplifier.

This reason is that if an operating current of the column amplifierchanges, then a voltage drop in a common GND wiring into which theoperating current is caused to flow changes accordingly (in FIG. 6, avoltage drop in V_(vs) changes) to generate crosstalk in signals inother columns. For example, when amplifiers for 1,000 columns aredisposed in a horizontal direction, and an operating current of eachamplifier is 10 μA, then a current of 10 mA in total is caused to flowinto the GND wiring. In this case, if the operating currents fluctuatein the amplifiers for 900 columns to be decreased by 1 μA, the currentof 0.9 mA in total changes accordingly. A change in operating current isdeveloped in the form of fluctuation of the voltage drop due to aparasitic resistance to exert an influence on an operation for readingthe signal.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is a principle object of the present invention to reduce a voltagedrop of a common power supply wiring in a plurality of amplificationcircuits to suppress crosstalk generated in other signal output lines.

A photoelectric conversion device of the present invention includes: aplurality of pixels each having a photoelectric conversion area; aplurality of signal output lines through which electrical signals are tobe read out from the plurality of pixels; and a plurality ofamplification circuits provided in correspondence to the plurality ofsignal output lines for amplifying the electrical signals, respectively,the plurality of amplification circuits including at least one constantcurrent circuit portion and being disposed in a predetermined directionof repetitive dispersion, in which the constant current circuit portionincludes at least a field effect transistor, and a direction of achannel length of the field effect transistor is different from thedirection of repetitive disposition of the amplification circuits.

According to the photoelectric conversion device of the presentinvention, a sufficient output resistance is obtained in the sourcegrounded field effect transistor in the amplification circuits, wherebya voltage drop in a common power supply wiring of a plurality ofamplification circuits can be reduced, and hence the crosstalk generatedin other signal output lines can be suppressed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a plan view of an amplification circuit of a photoelectricconversion device according to a first embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 2 is an equivalent circuit diagram of an amplification circuit ofthe photoelectric conversion device according to the first embodiment ofthe present invention;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a whole configuration of thephotoelectric conversion device according to the first embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 4 is a plan view of an amplification circuit of a photoelectricconversion device according to a second embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 5 is an equivalent circuit diagram of an amplification circuit ofthe photoelectric conversion device according to the second embodimentof the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a circuit diagram of an equivalent circuit of a photoelectricconversion device according to a related art; and

FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing a case where the photoelectricconversion device according to the present invention is applied to astill video camera.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will hereinafter bedescribed in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a plan view of an amplification circuit of a photoelectricconversion device according to a first embodiment of the presentinvention; FIG. 2 is an equivalent circuit diagram of an amplificationcircuit of the photoelectric conversion device according to the firstembodiment of the present invention; and FIG. 3 is a block diagramshowing a whole configuration of the photoelectric conversion deviceaccording to the first embodiment of the present invention. While pixelsfor two rows are shown in FIG. 3, the pixels equal in number to or morethan these pixels for two rows may be adopted. In addition, while thephotoelectric conversion device is shown in the form of an area sensorin which the pixels are two-dimensionally disposed, a line sensor inwhich the pixels are one-dimensionally disposed may also be adopted asthe photoelectric conversion device.

Referring to FIG. 3, one pixel includes: a photodiode 101; a pixeltransfer switch 102 for transferring electric charges accumulated in thephotodiode 101 to a floating diffusion region (not shown); a driver MOStransistor 104, as an amplification means, having an input portioncommon to the floating diffusion region; a reset switch 103 connected tothe floating diffusion region; and a row selection switch 105 forselecting pixels belonging corresponding row among all the pixels.

The pixel transfer switch 102, the reset switch 103, and the rowselection switch 105 are controlled with control signals PTX, PRES andPSEL from a vertical scanning circuit 123, respectively. Thus, signalsfrom the pixels belonging to the row selected by the row selectionswitch 105 are outputted to vertical output lines 106, as signal outputlines, which are alternately provided vertically in the drawing. Eachvertical output line 106 connects the corresponding pixels and oneterminal (+) of an operational amplifier 120 as an amplification circuitthrough a clamp capacitor 108. Reference numeral 107 designates a loadMOS transistor and reference numeral 109 designates a clamp switch.

The signals amplified by the operational amplifier 120 are accumulatedin an accumulation capacity 112 through a transfer gate 110 and are thensuccessively outputted to a horizontal output line 116 through ahorizontal transfer switch 114 controlled by a horizontal scanningcircuit 119 to be outputted through an output amplifier 118. Referencenumeral 132 designates a common GND wiring common to the operationalamplifiers 120.

A configuration of an equivalent circuit of the operational amplifier120 as the amplification circuit is shown in FIG. 2, and a plan view ofthe configuration of the operational amplifier 120 is shown in FIG. 1.In FIGS. 1 and 2, reference numeral 124 designates a source groundedfield effect transistor of a constant current circuit portion; referencenumeral 125 designates a field effect transistor as an input transistorof an input portion; reference numeral 128 designates a source groundedfield effect transistor of a load portion; reference symbol 124Gdesignates a gate electrode of the source grounded field effecttransistor 124; reference symbol 125G designates a gate electrode of thefield effect transistor 125; and reference symbol 128G designates a gateelectrode of the source grounded field effect transistor 128. Also,reference numeral 129 designates a contact hole, reference numeral 130designates an active region, and reference numeral 131 designates aP-type well region.

As has already been described, if the operating current of theoperational amplifier 120 changes, then the voltage drop of the commonGND wiring 132 into which the operating currents are caused to flowchanges accordingly to generate crosstalk in the signals of othercolumns. Hence, in the operational amplifier (amplification circuit)120, the source grounded field effect transistor 124 is required to havea sufficient output resistance. Consequently, it is important that achannel length of the source grounded field effect transistor is madelong enough to be free from an influence of the channel lengthmodulation.

For this reason, it is desirable that the field effect transistors bedisposed so as for their channel lengths to extend in a direction(corresponding to a direction vertical to a direction of repetitivedisposition of the amplification circuits in this case, i.e., a Y-axisdirection in the drawing) different from the direction of repetitivedisposition of the amplification circuits (an X-axis direction in thedrawing) limited by a pixel pitch. That is, the disposition is effectivein which the direction of the channel length of the source groundedfield effect transistor 124 is the direction (corresponding to thedirection vertical to the direction of repetitive disposition of theamplification circuits in this case, i.e., the Y-axis direction in thedrawing) different from the direction of repetitive disposition of theamplification circuits. Such a configuration can be grasped as causing adrain current of the source grounded field effect transistor 124 to flowin a direction different from the direction of repetitive disposition ofthe amplification circuits.

This importance increases since a pitch of repetitive disposition of theamplification circuits in the X-axis direction decreases along withreduction in pixel pitch.

Note that the direction different from the direction of repetitivedisposition of the amplification circuits means a direction which isinclined with respect to the direction of repetitive disposition of theamplification circuits. While the gradient of that direction is set asmay be necessary, that direction is preferably set as the directionvertical to the direction of repetitive disposition of the amplificationcircuits as in this embodiment in terms of layout. While the pitch ofrepetitive disposition of the amplification circuits is designed so asto correspond to the pixel pitch in many cases, the pitch of repetitivedisposition of the amplification circuits may be designed so as to bewider or narrower than the pixel pitch in some cases.

As described above, the direction of the channel length of the sourcegrounded field effect transistor 124 is set in the direction differentfrom the direction of repetitive disposition of the amplificationcircuits, whereby the channel length of the source grounded field effecttransistor 124 can be provided so as to be long without being limited bythe pitch (indicated by X1 in FIG. 1) of repetitive disposition of theamplification circuits. In particular, this is suitable for a case wherethe channel length is set longer than the pitch of repetitivedisposition of the amplification circuits.

In addition, an open loop gain becomes larger as g_(m)(transconductance) of the input transistor 125 of the operationalamplifier (amplification circuit) is larger. Thus, the direction (it canbe grasped as a direction of flow of a drain current) of the channellength of the input transistor 125 is desirably set in the directiondifferent from the direction (Y-axis direction) vertical to thedirection of repetitive disposition of the operational amplifiers(amplification circuits) (this desirable direction is set in thedirection of repetitive disposition of the amplification circuits inthis embodiment). It is because g_(m) of a field effect transistor isproportional to W/L (L is a channel length and W is a channel width),and thus it is advantageous that the channel width is allowed to beensured in the direction (Y-axis direction) different from the directionof repetitive disposition limited by the pixel pitch. Note that whilethe direction different from the direction (Y-axis direction) verticalto the direction of repetitive disposition of the operational amplifiers(amplification circuits) means the direction which is inclined withrespect to the direction vertical to the direction of repetitivedisposition of the operational amplifiers and its gradient is set as maybe necessary, that direction different therefrom is preferably set inthe direction (the X-axis direction in the drawing) of repetitivedisposition of the amplification circuits as in this embodiment in termsof layout.

When the input portion or the load portion has a cascode configuration,an output resistance of the amplification circuit is proportional tog_(m) of a gate grounded field effect transistor. Thus, the direction(it can be grasped as the direction as well of flow of the draincurrent) of the channel length of the gate grounded field effecttransistor is desirably set in the direction (it is set as the X-axisdirection as the direction of repetitive disposition of theamplification circuits in this embodiment) different from the directionvertical to the direction of repetitive disposition of the amplificationcircuits. An embodiment in such a case as well will hereinafter bedescribed.

FIG. 4 is a plan view of an amplification circuit of a photoelectricconversion device according to a second embodiment of the presentinvention, and FIG. 5 is an equivalent circuit diagram of theamplification circuit of the photoelectric conversion device accordingto the second embodiment of the present invention. In FIGS. 4 and 5, thesame constituent elements as those in FIGS. 1 and 2 are designated withthe same reference symbols.

In FIGS. 4 and 5, reference numeral 124 designates a source groundedfield effect transistor of a constant current circuit portion. Referencenumeral 125 designates a field effect transistor as an input transistor,and reference numeral 126 designates a gate grounded field effecttransistor. The field effect transistor 125 and the gate grounded fieldeffect transistor 126 constitute an input portion having a cascodeconfiguration. Reference numeral 127 designates a gate grounded fieldeffect transistor, and reference numeral 128 designates a sourcegrounded field effect transistor. The gate grounded field effecttransistor 127 and the source grounded field effect transistor 128constitute a load portion having a cascode configuration. Referencesymbol 124G designates a gate electrode of the source grounded fieldeffect transistor 124, reference symbol 125G designates a gate electrodeof the grounded field effect transistor 125, reference symbol 126Gdesignates a gate electrode of the gate grounded field effect transistor126, reference symbol 127G designates a gate electrode of the gategrounded field effect transistor 127, and reference symbol 128Gdesignates a gate electrode of the source grounded field effecttransistor 128. Also, reference numeral 129 designates a contact hole,reference numeral 130 designates an active region, and reference numeral131 designates a P-type well region.

In this embodiment, the direction of the channel lengths of the gategrounded field effect transistor 126 and the gate grounded field effecttransistor 127 is set in the direction (the X-axis direction in thedrawing) of repetitive disposition of the amplification circuits.

Next, a description will be given with respect to an image pickup systemusing the photoelectric conversion device according to the first andsecond embodiments of the present invention. As for the image pickupsystem using such a photoelectric conversion device, a still camera, avideo camera, a copying machine, a facsimile and the like are given.Then, a detailed description will hereinafter be given with respect toan embodiment when the photoelectric conversion device according to thepresent invention is applied to a still camera with reference to FIG. 7.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing a case where a solid state imagepickup device of the present invention is applied to “a still videocamera”.

In FIG. 7, reference numeral 1 designates a barrier serving both as aprotector and as a main switch; reference numeral 2 designates a lensfor forming an optical image of a subject on a surface of a solid stateimage pickup device 4; reference numeral 3 designates a diaphragm formaking a quantity of light passed through the lens 2 variable; referencenumeral 4 designates the solid state image pickup device for capturingan image of the subject formed by the lens 2 in the form of an imagesignal; reference numeral 6 designates an A/D converter forA/D-converting the image signal outputted from the solid state imagepickup device 4; reference numeral 7 designates a signal processor forsubjecting image data outputted from the A/D converter 6 to variouscorrections or compressing data; reference numeral 8, a timing generatorfor outputting various timing signals to the solid state image pickupdevice 4, a circuit processing image pickup signal 5, the A/D converter6 and the signal processor 7; reference numeral 9, an arithmeticoperation unit controlling whole structure for carrying out variousarithmetic operations and controlling the whole still video camera;reference numeral 10, a memory for temporarily storing therein imagedata; reference numeral 11, an I/F unit controlling processing mediumfor recording or reading out data in or from a recording medium;reference numeral 12, a detachable recording medium, such as asemiconductor memory, in or from which the image data is to be recordedor read out; and reference numeral 13, an external I/F unit throughwhich the still video camera is to communicate with an external computeror the like.

Next, a description will be given with respect to an operation of thestill video camera during the photographing with the above-mentionedconfiguration.

Upon open of the barrier 1, a main power supply is turned ON, a powersupply of a control system is next turned ON, and moreover a powersupply of an image pickup system circuit such as the A/D converter 6 isturned ON.

Thereafter, in order to control the exposure, the arithmetic operationunit controlling whole structure 9 releases the diaphragm 3, and asignal outputted from the image pickup device 4 is then A/D-converted inthe A/D converter 6 to be inputted to the signal processor 7. Anarithmetic operation for the exposure is carried out based on theresultant data in the arithmetic operation unit controlling wholestructure 9.

The brightness is judged based on the results of the photometry, and thearithmetic operation unit controlling whole structure 9 controls thediaphragm 3 in correspondence to the judgment results.

Next, high frequency components are taken out from the signal outputtedfrom the solid state image pickup device 4 to carry out the arithmeticoperation for obtaining a distance up to the subject in the arithmeticoperation unit controlling whole structure 9. Thereafter, the lens 2 isdriven to judge whether or not the focus is obtained. When the judgmentresults show that the focus is not yet obtained, the lens 2 is drivenagain to carry out the distance measurement.

After the focus is verified, the main exposure is started. Aftercompletion of the exposure, the image signal outputted from the solidstate image pickup device 4 is A/D-converted in the A/D converter 6 topass through the signal processor 7 to be written to a memory 10 by thearithmetic operation unit controlling whole structure 9. Thereafter, thedata accumulated in the memory 10 passes through the I/F unitcontrolling recording medium 11 to be recorded in the detachablerecording medium 12 such as a semiconductor memory in accordance withthe control by the arithmetic operation unit controlling whole structure9. Or, the data concerned may pass through the external I/F unit 13 tobe directly inputted to a computer in order to process the image.

The present invention is applied to the photoelectric conversion deviceused in a still camera, a video camera, a copying machine, a facsimileor the like, and especially is suitably used in the photoelectricconversion device of high resolution for which the reduction in pixelpitch is required.

This application claims priority from Japanese Patent Application No.2004-021542 filed on Jan. 29, 2004, which is hereby incorporated byreference herein.

1. A photoelectric conversion device comprising: a plurality of pixelcolumns, each including a plurality of pixels each including aphotoelectric conversion element, a floating diffusion region, atransfer portion for transferring an electric charge in photoelectricconversion element to the floating diffusion region, an amplificationtransistor having an input node connected to the floating diffusionregion, and a reset transistor for supplying a reset voltage to theinput node; a plurality of signal output lines, each corresponding to arespective one of the plurality of pixel columns, wherein, for each ofthe signal output lines, electrical signals are outputted from theplurality of pixels included in the respective one of the plurality ofpixel columns; and a plurality of column amplification circuits, eachcorresponding to a respective one of the plurality of signal outputlines, for amplifying the electrical signals, the plurality of columnamplification circuits each including at least one load transistor, theplurality of column amplification circuits being arranged repeatedly ina first direction which is different from a second direction along whichthe plurality of pixels included in each one of the plurality of pixelcolumns are arranged, the plurality of column amplification circuitsbeing arranged at both sides of a pixel area in which the plurality ofpixel columns are arranged to sandwich the pixel area, and each columnamplification circuit being an operational amplifier, wherein the loadtransistor has a source supplied with a predetermined voltage from acommon line, and wherein a direction of channel lengths of the loadtransistors is different from the first direction along which theplurality of column amplification circuits are arranged repeatedly. 2.The photoelectric conversion device according to claim 1, wherein theload transistor forms a source grounded amplification circuit.
 3. Thephotoelectric conversion device according to claim 2, wherein the loadtransistor has a channel length longer than a repeating pitch of theplurality of amplification circuits.
 4. The photoelectric conversiondevice according to claim 1, wherein each of the plurality ofamplification circuits has two input transistors each having a channelof which longitudinal direction is different from a longitudinaldirection of the load transistor.
 5. The photoelectric conversion deviceaccording to claim 1, wherein the amplification circuit has a cascodeconfiguration.
 6. A photoelectric conversion device comprising: aplurality of pixels each including a photoelectric conversion element, afloating diffusion region, a transfer portion for transferring anelectric charge in the photoelectric conversion element to the floatingdiffusion region, an amplification transistor having an input nodeconnected to the floating diffusion region, and a reset transistor forsupplying a reset voltage to the input node; a plurality of signaloutput lines, through which electrical signals are to be read out fromthe plurality of pixels; and a plurality of amplification circuits,arranged correspondingly to the plurality of signal output lines, foramplifying the electrical signals, the plurality of amplificationcircuits including at least one load transistor, the plurality ofamplification circuits being arranged repeatedly in a first direction,the plurality of amplification circuits being arranged at both sides ofa pixel area in which the plurality of pixel columns are arranged tosandwich the pixel area, and each amplification circuit being anoperational amplifier, wherein the load transistor has a source suppliedwith a predetermined voltage from a common wiring, wherein a directionof a channel length of the load transistors is different from the firstdirection along which the plurality of amplification circuits arearranged repeatedly, wherein the load transistor forms a source groundedamplification circuit, and wherein the load transistors have a channellength longer than a repeating pitch of the plurality of amplificationcircuits.
 7. The photoelectric conversion device according to claim 6,wherein each of the plurality of amplification circuits has two inputtransistors each having a channel of which longitudinal direction isdifferent from a longitudinal direction of the load transistor.
 8. Thephotoelectric conversion device according to claim 6, wherein theamplification circuit has a cascode configuration.